Marriage is one of the most important events in an individual’s life and it comes with huge decisions. Preparations for marriage are hectic and a couple has to think carefully through all the things they do because such choices will affect their life together. One of the most important decisions a couple has to make is the last name change. In 2019, it is still the norm for the bride to take up their spouse’s name and this age-old tradition isn’t about to go away.
With so many changes in modern society, you might be at a loss why you should drop your maiden name in favor of your spouse’s name. Before making the decision, it is important to think it through and weigh all the options. This article gives you some reasons to contemplate changing your last name after marriage.
1. Reflect the Big Decision/ Change in Status
Getting married is a huge decision in life. Indeed, it is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in life. By taking up your spouse’s name, you will let the world know that you have made this big choice willingly. Many brides say they feel more comfortable using their spouse’s last name after marriage because it reflects their new status.
By going through the legal process of a name change after marriage, you tell the world that this is a new start for you. Picking your spouse’s name reflects your new status as a wife and this comes with respect from different quarters. Simply put, you will mark this milestone not only through a wedding ceremony but also through a name change.
2. Feel Like a Team
After all the festivities, you are left with your spouse to start a new life. By taking up your spouse’s name, you feel like a team and there’s that courage to face the world. Many couples say that despite the joy and glamour of weddings, real life starts with a lot of anxiety and choosing the same name helps a couple feel closer.
When you choose your spouse’s name, you show a willingness to fight together and this is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in life. A legal name change after marriage might seem like a formalitybut most couples say it helped them feel together and helped them overcome the fear of their new life. Like in a sports team, a player has to make huge sacrifices for the success of the team and this is what happens when one spouse drops their name and picks the name of their partner.
3. It’s Romantic
Forget everything else and look at the reason many people commit to living with each other. It is all about love and one of the best ways to show this is by picking your spouse’s name. It is an important decision that your spouse will appreciate. While most people expect the bride to change their last name automatically, there’s a lot of thought that goes into making this choice.
For a start, many couples today use other name change options after marriage including hyphenation. When you take your spouse’s name, this is not an easy choice and your partner understands this. They know it is more than keeping with the norms and it is a decision made out of love. Many couples today fight over the name change process but if you take your spouse’s name willingly, they will appreciate this big decision knowing it comes out of the love you have for them.
4. For the Sake of the Children
When getting married, starting a family is a priority and it is important to make decisions that favor your kids’ future. Picking your spouse’s name will have an impact on your kid’s surnames and it is thus important to make this decision carefully.
You don’t want to have a different surname from that of your kids and this should motivate you to drop your name in favor of your spouse’s. In this respect, you are thinking ahead and protecting your kids while at the same time creating a sense of togetherness in the family. The last thing you want is for your kids to grow up asking why you have a different surname. It is advisable to choose your spouse’s name after marriage to create a sense of harmony in the family.
5. Curry Favor With the In-laws
While most people won’t accept it, relationships between newlyweds and the in-laws are not always rosy. After getting married into a new family, it takes time for you to become fully accepted; however hard you try. Of course some families welcome brides with open hands but in any case, changing your last name to your husband’s name can help a lot.
For your in-laws, this is the obvious decision you should make and if you don’t, your relationship will have a rocky start. To make life easier, you should opt for your spouse’s name in keeping with the traditions.
6. Avoid Embarrassing Moments
When attending social functions or traveling with your husband, everyone expects you to be using your spouse’s name. From the flight ticket agents to the hotel receptionist. You will always have a hard time explaining that you don’t use your spouse’s name. Of course, most people will not buy the story and such embarrassing moments can ruin even the happiest trip. To avoid such inconvenience, you should learn how to change your last name after marriage early enough.
7. Sense of Togetherness
Using your spouse’s name creates a sense of togetherness as you start this crucial phase of your lives. If you love your partner, then it follows that you always want to be associated with them. There’s no better way to show such love than by picking their last name. It creates a strong bond and you will revel in your newly found joy every time someone calls you by this new name. The sense of pride that you feel makes you appreciate the magnitude of the decision and gives you more reason to continue loving.
8. Make Financial Transaction Easier
When you share joint names, you will find it easier to sign joint accounts and other shared financial contracts. Your financial advisors will have an easier time guiding you on such contracts and you don’t need to keep correcting them if they assume you share the same last name. Most people expect you to share the last name and you will find them filling out your contract forms and other documents only for you to make corrections.
9. Show Your Commitment
When learning how to change your last name after marriage, you will discover it is a tedious process meaning anyone who goes through with it has to be committed. Changing your last name is not a must but it is a great way to show your commitment to the marriage.
In these modern times, many couples don’t expect their partners to go ahead with the name change and hence if you do this, it melts their heart and proves your commitment. Of course, you don’t need a name change to show you are in the union for the long haul but it is a symbolic move that makes all the difference. It shows you are serious about your new status and you are ready to make sacrifices for your marriage.
10. Ward Off Unwanted Attention
After marriage, you don’t want any misunderstandings arising from your former relationships. As such, changing your last name to that of your spouse is a great way of warding off any unwanted attention. It is a smart way to tell everyone that you are now off the market. When you change your last name on all your social media accounts and announce this milestone, it helps avert any problems in your marriage. Any flirtatious messages and such attention is no longer welcome.
These are only a few of the reasons couples have for changing their names after marriage. Some do it simply because it is a tradition while others want to announce their new status. It is a great way to mark this milestone in your life and people in your life will naturally expect you to use your partner’s name.
How to Change Your Last Name After Marriage
Whatever the motivation behind changing your last name after marriage, it is important to understand how the process works. You need to choose a new name before applying for a marriage license and make sure you use it in your application. The name reflected on the marriage license is the one that you will find on the marriage certificate.
A marriage certificate is a legal document and you will need it to apply for new papers including a driver’s license, passport, and social security card. For all these applications, you need certified copies of the marriage certificate and for a new DL, you need to visit your local DMV offices.
The process is tedious, but luckily, you can use an online last name change service to get all the documentation you need and have them sent to the respective offices. These services also send the name change notifications to all institutions you want and it saves you a lot of trouble. If you have been wondering why and how to change your last name after marriage, now you know.
